Fort St. John, British Columbia
|
|
Fort Saint John (more common spelling Fort St. John) is a city in the Canadian province of British Columbia.
Originally established in 1794, as a trading post, Fort St. John is the oldest white settlement on mainland British Columbia. As of 2001, the population of Fort St. John was 16,034 (a 6.7 % increase from the 1996 census). The area of the city was 21.54 square kilometres.
History
Over the years the community has been moved a number of times for varying economic reasons. The present location is thought to be the sixth. The orignal trading post to built in the area was named Rocky Mountain House. It was established one year after Sir Alexander Mackenzie exlpored the area in 1793. One of a series of forts along the Peace River constructed to service the fur trade, it was located southwest of present site of Fort St. John. The Beaver and Sikanni Nations used it as a tranding post and it was also used as a supply depot for further expeditions into the province. The fort closed in 1805. Fort d'Epinette was built in 1806 by the North West Company. It was renamed Fort St. John in 1821 following the purchase of the North West Company by the Hudson's Bay Company. This fort was located about 500 meters downstream from the mouth of the Beatton River, which at that time was known as the Pine River (d'epinette in French). It was shut down in 1823. After a lapse of nearly forty years, Fort St. John was reopened in 1860 on the south side of the Peace River, directly south of the present community. It was moved in 1872 by Francis Work Beaton directly across the river. This one lasted until 1925 when the river ceased to be the main avenue of transportation and the fort was moved closer to where the settlers were establishing homesteads. It was built at Fish Creek, northwest of the present community, on the new trail to Fort Nelson. It did not shut down until 1975. In 1928, C. M. Finch moved his general store to two quarters of land where he also built a government building to house the land, telegraph and post offices. The present site for the town was firmly established after he donated five acres for a Catholic Church and additional land for a hospital.
External links
- City of Fort St. John Website (http://www.cityfsj.com/main.html)
- Statistics Canada - 2001 Community Profile - Fort Saint John (http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil01/Details/details1.cfm?SEARCH=BEGINS&ID=13384&PSGC=59&SGC=5955034&DataType=1&LANG=E&Province=59&PlaceName=fort%20st%2E%20john&CMA=&CSDNAME=Fort%20St%2E%20John&A=&TypeNameE=City%20%2D%20Cit%E9&Prov=)
- Explore North - Fort St. John History (http://www.explorenorth.com/library/communities/canada/bl-ftstjohnhistory.htm)